Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 8:13 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 8:13 a.m.

VENICE - The Revolution3 triathlon will return to Sarasota County for a second year in early November, the Sarasota County Sports Commission announced this week.

The Half-Ironman event, which attracted around 1,000 visiting athletes who spent around $1 million during its debut here last year, will also add a shorter, 30-mile race in 2013 to draw additional participants.

Race officials and county sports commission officials, who are part of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency, expect this year's Rev3 event to have double the number of participants and economic impact as 2012's.

Last year, rough waters prompted the cancellation of the swim leg of the triathlon, which began at popular restaurant Sharky's on the Pier.

Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, said in November 2011 that she hoped the prestigious triathlon series event would become an annual one in Southwest Florida.

Rev3's triathlon spans 70.3 miles of swimming, biking and running. In a Half-Ironman, participants swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and then run 13.1 miles.

Most participants require six to eight hours to complete the entire course, though many elite athletes finish in about four hours.

Professional athletes will compete for a $50,000 purse to be split between top finishers.

To make the Rev3 race more accessible and successful, several changes are being implemented for 2013. Most notably, its date has been moved by two weeks -- from Oct. 28 to Nov. 10 -- in an attempt to accommodate more participants.

Rev3's bike course has been altered too, for the safety of competitors, volunteers and community members, according to a statement. Last year, more than 550 community volunteers helped stage the event.

<p><em>VENICE</em> - The Revolution3 triathlon will return to Sarasota County for a second year in early November, the Sarasota County Sports Commission announced this week.</p><p>The Half-Ironman event, which attracted around 1,000 visiting athletes who spent around $1 million during its debut here last year, will also add a shorter, 30-mile race in 2013 to draw additional participants.</p><p>Race officials and county sports commission officials, who are part of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency, expect this year's Rev3 event to have double the number of participants and economic impact as 2012's.</p><p>Last year, rough waters prompted the cancellation of the swim leg of the triathlon, which began at popular restaurant Sharky's on the Pier.</p><p>Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, said in November 2011 that she hoped the prestigious triathlon series event would become an annual one in Southwest Florida.</p><p>Rev3's triathlon spans 70.3 miles of swimming, biking and running. In a Half-Ironman, participants swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and then run 13.1 miles.</p><p>Most participants require six to eight hours to complete the entire course, though many elite athletes finish in about four hours.</p><p>Professional athletes will compete for a $50,000 purse to be split between top finishers.</p><p>To make the Rev3 race more accessible and successful, several changes are being implemented for 2013. Most notably, its date has been moved by two weeks -- from Oct. 28 to Nov. 10 -- in an attempt to accommodate more participants.</p><p>Rev3's bike course has been altered too, for the safety of competitors, volunteers and community members, according to a statement. Last year, more than 550 community volunteers helped stage the event.</p><p>Athletes this year will ride their bicycles on a single loop along portions of Venice Avenue East; Pinebrook Road; Hatchet Creek Road; Jacaranda Boulevard; Center Edmonson/Border Road; the Carlton Reserve; Knights Trail Road; Laurel Road; Albee Farm Road; and Colonia Lane.</p><p>Some key aspects of the race will remain the same.</p><p>Sharky's on the Pier and Maxine Barritt Park, on South Harbor Drive in Venice, will serve as the main start and finish locations for the races.</p><p>Additional events will be held for participants, starting Friday, Nov. 8, and running through race day Nov. 10.</p><p>Registration for this year's event is open online at rev3tri.com/florida/sign-up-fl/registration.</p>